ISLANDS OFF THRACE, Imbrus. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Assarion (Bronze, 18 mm, 4.36 g, 6 h), 2nd to early 3rd century AD. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet. Rev. [Ι]ΜΒΡΙ-ΩΝ Artemis advancing right, drawing arrow from quiver with her right hand and holding bow in her left. BMC -. CN online 8723. Lindgren -. RPC -. SNG Copenhagen -. Extremely rare. Light deposits and with minor weakness on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


The island of Imbrus, strategically situated near the entrance to the Dardanelles, was an old Athenian possession that remained in the city's hands for most of the Roman imperial time, until eventually being attached to Thrace in the 4th century AD. Its rare pseudo-autonomous bronze coinage shows very close similarities to that of Athens, indicating that it was perhaps struck in the mint of the mother city rather than on the island itself.